Grand Jury returns 31 indictments

Three charged with sex crimes against minors

Staff Report

POMEROY — A Meigs County Grand Jury returned a total of 31 indictments against 27 individuals earlier this week, including three cases of sexual offenses committed against children, 16 drug cases, six cases of assault and domestic violence, and four cases of theft and fraud, among other cases.

Prosecutor James K. Stanley stated, that of the drug cases, seven cases involve methamphetamine, three cases involve heroin, two cases involve LSD, two cases involve marijuana, two cases involve buprenorphine, and one case each involves fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA and methylphenidate.

The individuals indicted include the following:

Sex Offenses

James Hess, 51, of Pomeroy, Ohio, was indicted for three counts of Gross Sexual Imposition, each a felony of the third degree, Gross Sexual Imposition, a felony of the fourth degree, and four counts of Rape, each a felony of the first degree. Hess is alleged to have committed multiple acts of gross sexual imposition and rape involving four minor victims. The Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services investigated this matter.

John Hess, Jr., 52, of Pomeroy, Ohio, was indicted for three counts of Rape, each a felony of the first degree. Hess is alleged to have committed multiple acts of rape involving a minor victim. The Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services investigated this matter.

Casey Hubbard, 29, of Racine, Ohio, was indicted for two counts of Disseminating Matter Harmful to Juveniles, each a felony of the fourth degree, one count of Gross Sexual Imposition, a felony of the fourth degree, and eight counts of Gross Sexual Imposition, each a felony of the third degree. Hubbard is alleged to have caused two minor victims to view pornography. Hubbard is also alleged to have engaged in multiple acts of gross sexual imposition with two minor victims. The Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services investigated this matter.

Drug Offenses

Joshua Althouse, 33, of Racine, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth degree. Althouse is alleged to have been in possession of methamphetamine during an interaction with law enforcement in Racine. The Village of Racine Police Department and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Taylor Burge, 27, of Racine, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Heroin), a felony of the fifth degree. Burge is alleged to have been in possession of heroin during a traffic stop on Carmel Road. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Ronald Campbell, 34, of Langsville, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Marijuana), a felony of the third degree, and Cultivation of Marijuana, a felony of the third degree. Campbell is alleged to have cultivated and possessed marijuana at his residence, which was discovered while deputies responded to an unsubstantiated report of arson. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Thurien Carter, 32, of Pomeroy, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth degree. Carter is alleged to have been in possession of methamphetamine during a traffic stop in Pomeroy. The Village of Pomeroy Police Department investigated this matter.

Timothy Cox, 22, of Glouster, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (LSD), a felony of the fifth degree. Cox is alleged to have been in possession of LSD at a campground near Pageville, which was discovered when deputies responded to a report of a drug overdose. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Joshua Dixon, 39, of Jackson, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth degree, and Identity Fraud, a felony of the fifth degree. Dixon is alleged to have been in possession of methamphetamine and to have used another’s identity while at a business in Rutland. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Zachary Gillies, 26, of Gallipolis, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (LSD), a felony of the fifth degree, Possession of Drugs (MDMA), a felony of the fifth degree, and Possession of Drugs (Buprenorphine), a misdemeanor of the first degree. Gillies is alleged to have been in possession of LSD, MDMA, and buprenorphine during a traffic stop in Rutland. The Village of Rutland Police Department and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Ashley Holdren, 27, of Long Bottom, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Heroin), a felony of the fifth degree. Holdren is alleged to have been in possession of heroin during a law enforcement response to a call for service on State Route 248. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Shannon Nitz, 42, of Gallipolis, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Cocaine), a felony of the fifth degree. Nitz is alleged to have been in possession of cocaine while law enforcement responded to an emergency services call. The Village of Middleport Police Department investigated this matter.

Christopher Porter, 39, of New Haven, West Virginia, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth degree. Porter is alleged to have been in possession of methamphetamine during an investigation at a residence in Middleport. The Village of Middleport Police Department investigated this matter.

Floyd Riffle, 57, of Middleport, Ohio, was the subject of two indictments regarding two separate offenses. The first indictment included one count of Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth degree. Riffle is alleged to have been in possession of methamphetamine during a traffic stop in Middleport. The second indictment included one count of Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth degree. Riffle is alleged to have been in possession of methamphetamine during the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Middleport. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Alison Smith, 33, of Racine, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Methylphenidate), a felony of the fifth degree, Possession of Drugs (Heroin), a felony of the fifth degree, and Possession of Drugs (Fentanyl), a felony of the fifth degree, Trafficking in Drugs (Methylphenidate), a felony of the fourth degree, Trafficking in Drugs (Heroin), a felony of the fifth degree, and Trafficking in Drugs (Fentanyl), a felony of the fourth degree. Smith is alleged to have trafficked and to have been in possession of methylphenidate, heroin, and fentanyl, which was discovered while Smith was taken into custody pursuant to an arrest warrant. The Middleport Police Department investigated this matter.

Ronald Smith, 35, of Shade, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Marijuana, a felony of the third degree, and Cultivation of Marijuana, a felony of the third degree. Smith is alleged to have cultivated and possessed marijuana at his residence near Burlingham, which was discovered during the execution of a search warrant. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Robert Stone, 30, of Middleport, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Adderall), a felony of the fifth degree, and Possession of Drugs (Buprenorphine), a misdemeanor of the first degree. Stone is alleged to have possessed Adderall and Buprenorphine during a traffic stop in Pomeroy. The Pomeroy Police Department investigated this matter.

Lester Wise, 55, of Middleport, Ohio, was indicted for Possession of Drugs (Methamphetamine), a felony of the fifth degree. Wise is alleged to have been in possession of methamphetamine during an investigation on Story’s Run. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force investigated this matter.

Assault Offenses

Daniel Barber, 31, of Reedsville, Ohio, was indicted for Felonious Assault, a felony of the second degree. Barber is alleged to have caused an orbital fracture to the victim. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office investigated this matter.

David Park, 40, of Pomeroy, Ohio was the subject of four indictments regarding four separate incidents. The first indictment included one count of Domestic Violence, a felony of the fourth degree. Park is alleged to have caused physical harm to his live-in partner. The second indictment included one count of Domestic Violence, a felony of the fourth degree, one count of Abduction, a felony of the third degree, and one count of Assault, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Park is alleged to have caused physical harm to his live-in partner, to have restrained the victim’s liberty, and to have caused physical harm to a second victim. The third indictment included one count of Domestic Violence, a felony of the fourth degree. Park is alleged to have caused physical harm to his live-in partner. The fourth indictment included one count of Domestic Violence, a felony of the fourth degree, and one count of Resisting Arrest, a misdemeanor of the second degree. Park is alleged to have caused physical harm to his live-in partner. Park is also alleged to have resisted arrest while deputies attempted to take him into custody. Park was previously convicted of a domestic violence offense in Arizona. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office investigated this matter.

Hope Sorrell, 37, of Pomeroy, Ohio, was indicted for Assault of a Peace Officer, a felony of the fourth degree, and Resisting Arrest, a misdemeanor of the second degree. Sorrell is alleged to have assaulted a deputy and subsequently resisted arrest following a domestic dispute in Syracuse. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office investigated this matter.

Theft and Fraud Offenses

Terry Lambert, 26, of Langsville, Ohio, was indicted for two counts of Breaking and Entering, each a felony of the fifth degree, and two counts of Theft, each a felony of the fifth degree. Lambert is alleged to have broken into a garage at a residence on State Route 124 and stolen a riding lawnmower and a weed eater. Lambert is also alleged to have broken into a building owned by a church on Bradbury Road and stolen a riding lawnmower. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office investigated this matter.

Christopher Lee, 35, of Long Bottom, Ohio, was indicted for five counts of Identity Fraud, each a felony of the fifth degree, three counts of Misuse of Credit Cards, each a misdemeanor of the first degree, four counts of Forgery, each a felony of the fifth degree, four counts of Tampering with Records, each a misdemeanor of the first degree, and one count of Securing Writings by Deception, a felony of the fourth degree. Lee is alleged to have used the victim’s identity and to have forged the victim’s signature in order to open lines of credit without the victim’s knowledge. Lee is also alleged to have deceived the victim into signing a loan document. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office investigated this matter.

William Mullins, Jr., 34, of Gallipolis, Ohio, was indicted for Breaking and Entering, a felony of the fifth degree, and Theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Mullins is alleged to have broken into a business in Middleport and to have stolen various items from that business. The Middleport Police Department investigated this matter.

Scott Ogdin, 46, of Pomeroy, Ohio, was indicted for Theft, a felony of the fourth degree. Ogdin is alleged to have stolen a motor vehicle from a business on State Route 124. The Meigs County Sheriff’s Office investigated this matter.

Other Offenses

Joseph Lee, 33, of Pomeroy, was indicted for Non-Support of Dependents, a felony of the fifth degree. Lee is alleged to have failed to make child support payments for 104 weeks out of a 104-week period. Lee is alleged to owe an arrearage of $4,865.44. The Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services investigated this matter.

Crystal Mauntel, 33, of Langsville, Ohio, was indicted for Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the third degree, and Obstructing Official Business, a misdemeanor of the second degree. Mauntel is alleged to have tampered with evidence and obstructed officials from performing their duties while she submitted to a drug test. The Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services investigated this matter.

All cases will proceed in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas before Judge I. Carson Crow.

For informational purposes, possible penalties for felony offenses include: felonies of the first degree- 3-11 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine; felonies of the second degree- 2-8 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine; felonies of the third degree- 9-36 months in prison and up to a $10,000 fine; felonies of the fourth degree- 6-18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine; felonies of the fifth degree- 6-12 months in prison and up to a $2,500 fine. For most felonies of the fourth and fifth degrees, sentencing guidelines found in the Ohio Revised Code require first-time offenders to be sentenced to community control unless certain conditions exist permitting the imposition of a prison sentence.

Anyone suffering from drug addiction who wishes to enter into drug treatment and rehabilitation is urged to contact one of the local addiction services agencies. Anyone who has information regarding suspected drug activity is requested to contact local law enforcement. Anyone who suspects child physical or sexual abuse is urged to report such matters to local law enforcement and to the Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services. Anyone who desires victim services information may contact the Meigs County Victim Assistance Program. The Meigs County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is available to assist anyone with any of these matters, stated Stanley.